In reaching a monetary
settlement with fossil fuel companies over damages cased by the companies’
fracking, a Pennsylvania couple has been placed under a gag order to not talk
about the terms and conditions of the settlement. And their children have, too.
Chris
and Stephanie Hallowichs claimed that the fracking performed by Range
Resources, Williams Gas/Laurel Mountain Midstream and MarkWest Energy adjacent
to their 10-acre farm in western Pennsylvania contaminated their water supply
and harmed the health of their entire family. They experienced burning eyes,
sore throats, headaches, and earaches. They settled with the fossil fuel
companies for an undisclosed amount.
Gag
orders in court settlements aren’t unusual. But this is the first time that
children have been included in a gag order. As the article from the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette points out, legal viewpoints differ on whether children can be
included in such a gag order. My suspicion is that the children were included
to throw a wild card into the settlement. The lawyers for the gas companies
know that adults have a hard time keeping their mouths shut, and it is almost
impossible for children and teenagers to keep a secret. If one of the kids
talks, it voids the settlement.
It could be a win-win for the fracking companies.
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